Medical Advisor & Medical Operations Lead

Job Description

We are seeking a Medical Advisor & Medical Operations Lead to join our Medical Affairs organization in Ireland. This is a unique dual-role position with an equal 50% Medical Advisor and 50% Medical Operations Lead focus.

As a member of the Ireland Medical Leadership Team, you will work closely with the Country Medical Director, Therapeutic Area Medical Heads, and the UK/Ireland Medical Operations Director to help shape medical strategy, drive operational excellence, and support harmonized ways of working across the UK and Ireland cluster.

You will engage with healthcare professionals, health authorities, academic centers, trade associations, and other key stakeholders to advance scientific exchange, improve patient outcomes, and ensure compliance with industry and regulatory requirements.

In your Medical Advisor capacity, you will lead the development and execution of country Medical Affairs plans, generate actionable medical insights, support research and educational initiatives, and build trusted partnerships within the scientific community. In parallel, as Medical Operations Lead, you will help drive governance, compliance, process excellence, inspection readiness, and the successful implementation of medical initiatives across the organization.

What You'll Do

Medical Advisor (50%)

• Lead the development and execution of country Medical Affairs plans.

• Generate and communicate medical insights that shape strategy and decision-making.

• Build trusted relationships with healthcare professionals, scientific experts, and academic partners.

• Facilitate scientific exchange through medical education programs, advisory boards, research collaborations, and peer-to-peer interactions.

• Support clinical research and data-generation activities, including investigator-led research.

• Provide balanced, evidence-based scientific information to internal and external stakeholders.

• Contribute scientific expertise to support regulatory, access, and asset-related activities.

Medical Operations Lead (50%)

• Partner with the Ireland Medical Leadership Team to support an effective and compliant Medical Affairs function.

• Work closely with UK/Ireland Medical Operations to implement new initiatives and harmonize processes across the cluster.

• Drive operational excellence, governance, inspection readiness, and continuous process improvement.

• Lead Medical Affairs metrics, process oversight, and training activities.

• Serve as a key point of contact for medical operations, compliance, medical information, and governance processes.

• Support compliance with company policies, industry codes, and local regulatory requirements.

• Foster collaboration across teams supporting medically driven initiatives and programs.

What You Bring

Required

• Medical Degree, Pharmacy Degree, or advanced scientific qualification (MSc, PhD, or equivalent) with relevant industry experience.

• Strong scientific and medical background.

• Experience in Medical Affairs, pharmaceutical, biotech, healthcare, or related environments.

• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and relationship-building skills.

• Strategic mindset with strong planning and organizational capabilities.

• Knowledge of clinical research, pharmacovigilance, and healthcare compliance requirements.

• Preferred

• Postgraduate medical, scientific, pharmaceutical medicine, or business qualifications.

• Knowledge of the IPHA Code of Practice.

• Medical signatory status.

• Experience building relationships with scientific leaders, healthcare professionals, or academic institutions.

Why Join Us?

At our company, we are united by our purpose of using the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world.

If you're passionate about translating science into better outcomes for patients while shaping the future of Medical Affairs, we'd love to hear from you.

Required Skills:

ABPI Code of Practice, ABPI Code of Practice, Adaptability, Clinical Care, Clinical Leadership, Clinical Marketing, Clinical Outcomes, Data Analysis, Delivery Coordination, Domestic Policy, Healthcare Education, Hospital Management, Managed Care, Market Landscape Analysis, Medical Affairs, Medical Knowledge, Medical Management, Medical Marketing Strategy, Medical Services, Medicare Guidelines, Oncology Marketing, Patient Care, Patient Management, Patient Safety, Patient Treatment {+ 9 more}

Preferred Skills:

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Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

09/4/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.